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THEFT OF CHANGE.

BREACH OF PROHIBITION ORDER

A charge. of stealing the mini nf JJI, llic 11 in>)u-rly nf David CJrant., was preferred, against Claude Stafford Rusher, 55 years of age, before Mr. IA C. Luv\ey, S.M., at the Magistrates Court this morning. The accused was also charged with procuring liquor during ihe currency of a, prohibition order. The accused pleaded l not guilty.

Detective McLeod stated that he had been asked by the accused to procure counsel. A solicitor bad been communicated wii’n, but when he arrived over half an hour later, be had said be could not appear. There were two witnesses from lire country who were anxious to gel- away. The Magistrate said' bo woitld the- hear the case.

Detective McLeod stated: that the accused kept a boardinghouse in the main street. Last- night two natives had gone there lor a bed and when one of thorn look, some money from his pocket to |hi y his board, the a-ccuseu grabbed the lot, and ordered the man off the I itemises, accusing him of having reportedl to the police the loss of a suit when he was staying there on a previous occasion.

David Grant stated that some time ago he had stayed at Rusher's boardinghouse, and had then lost a suit of clothes. This had been reported to the police. Last night witness, with another native again went to the boardinghouse for a bed. At first, they were fold there had been a row there, and were advised to come- back later. They returned later and met the accused, wlm complained of witness's action before when be reported the loss of the suit, of clothes. 110 asked! witness for 2s for the bed, and when he (witness) pulled out a handful of silver, the accused grabbed it and said it would' pay for telling the police. There was more- than a "quid” in Grant's hands, and after the accused took the money he ordered witness off the premises. The. accused appeared “tight’’ at the time. Ilu.nia Nnkutiuku, who was in the cuihp-a.ilv of the former witness, gave similar evidence, stating that the accused -used indecent 'language, to them, and attempted 1 to assault them at- the police station subsequently.

(.'unstable Gatehouse stated that the occurrence had been reported to him late last night, and: ho had interviewed the accused, who was under the influence of liquor, and bad used insulting language to the two previous witnesses, and attempted to assault thorn.

When asked) if he wished, to make a statement or give evidence the accused said : “I’m caught napping. I don’t know what to do.” Detective McLeod stated that the accused had not previously been convicted of dishonesty, but there had been a number of accusations of Maoris losing money at hie boardinghouse, while there was reason to believe lie had made a practice of supplying liquor to -Maoris. The Magistrate, said it seemed as if the accused was looking for trouble, and pretty serious trouble at. that'- This was a mean (heft-, and drunkenness was no excuse. Do would not! however, treat- him as n; bad offender, but, as a boardinghouse proprietor, the accused should realise Die necessity of treating lodgers properly. . For the breach of his prohibition order he would be fined £2, and on the. theft charge £5. He would also have to refund the £1 and pay witnesses’-expenses, £l.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19241224.2.76

Bibliographic details

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16619, 24 December 1924, Page 8

Word Count
567

THEFT OF CHANGE. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16619, 24 December 1924, Page 8

THEFT OF CHANGE. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16619, 24 December 1924, Page 8

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